Foldable/collapsible structures

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a collapsible/foldable structure suitable for a variety of applications, such as an animal shelter, pet carrier transportation device, or a collapsible consumer storage container in general, such as a cooler or ice chest. The structure comprises a top roof and a bottom platform defining a top and bottom of said structure and a vertically disposed lower side section on said bottom platform. Front and rear walls are included. The structure also includes a pair of sidewalls each pivotally attached to the roof to facilitate inward collapse of the sidewalls when the sidewalls are pivoted toward the bottom platform. The sidewalls are defined by an upper and middle section including the lower vertically disposed side section, wherein the upper and middle sections are pivotally attached to one another and the middle and lower sections are pivotally attached to one another so that the upper and middle sidewall sections can be pivoted inwardly towards said bottom platform, to provide a compact collapsed condition.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/914,047 filed Jan. 9, 2002, which is a National Stage (371) ofPCT/US00/04357 filed Feb. 22, 2000, which claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/334,529 filed Jun. 16, 1999 (now U.S. Pat. No.6,131,534), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/266,389 filed Mar. 11, 1999 (now abandoned), and U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/255,117 filed Feb. 22, 1999 (now U.S. Pat. No.5,950,568), the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to foldable/collapsible structures, andmore particularly to a lightweight animal shelter having excellentthermal insulating features and ease of assembly/disassembly. Theshelter can therefore be readily converted into a compact condition forease of storage and/or transport, and also presents itself as anattractive or classic looking doghouse design when fully deployed. Thisinvention also relates to a pet carrier transportation device and inparticular to a collapsible/foldable pet carrier or portable structurethat absorbs or isolates liquid waste that may be present in the carrierand which carrier design further provides a more sanitary condition forthe pet when in transport. Furthermore, the present invention alsorelates to storage containers, including such containers as a cooler, orice chest, which has generally rigid walls, yet can be collapsed orfolded into a configuration which takes up much less space, and cantherefore be easily stored and/or transported. Finally, the inventionherein also relates to a collapsible structure in general, e.g., acollapsible consumer waster container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A fair amount of disclosures have been put forward in recent years,seeking to develop a foldable/collapsible structure primarily for use asan animal shelter. More specifically, a number of pet houses andenclosures have been proposed with the purpose of providing a sleepingarea for a pet and for confining a pet, when necessary, for example,when traveling. However, these structures have all tended to be bulky,of relatively high weight, difficult to move from one location toanother, and more importantly, not sufficiently foldable/collapsible forease of storage and transport. Such prior art designs also have notconsidered the development of a structure that provides appropriatethermal insulation, to thereby provide the pet with comfortable shelter.In short, to date, existing dog houses have been: 1. difficult toconstruct; 2. take up valuable space in distribution and at retailoutlets; 3. are difficult to transport for both the distributor andretailer; 4. are difficult for consumers to transport home or todifferent locations; and 5. are difficult for consumers to store whennot in use.

For example, one early attempt at producing a collapsible animal cage isreported in U.S. Pat. No. 3,896,766, which discloses a collapsibleanimal cage formed of rectilinear welded wire fabric. The cage is saidto have a front and rear rectangular end wall structure movable betweenan erected position and a folded position overlying a litter tray on thebottom of the cage, side wall structures intermediately hinged betweentheir tops and bottoms and foldable over the end wall structures, and atop hingedly secured to the top of the side walls therein.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,637 discloses what is termed a “container” to houseor carry small household pets, that may be quickly and manually formedbetween an erected use mode and a flat folded storage mode. Thecontainer is of a gable roofed house configuration in its erected modeand comprises an interconnected structure formed by hingeably relatedrigid planar elements that occupy a relatively small volume in thefolded storage mode. Handles carried by the roof provide aid in manualcarriage, and releasable fasteners maintain either an erected or storagemode, and en end wall provides a selectively latchable door.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,576,116 discloses a collapsible A-frame house providinga common site for a cat to rest, exercise and play comprised of a roofof carpet-like material including two integral roof panels with theirbottom edges connected to opposing edges of a floor panel also of acarpet-like material. Stiffening panels are affixed onto the backside ofthe roof panels. A cord with two ends slidably passes through the peakinto the house, with cat amusement objects connected to each end. Thecord additionally provides a manual handle for lifting the house.Collapsing the house for storage or transport, the house is initiallylifted by the cord adjacent the peak. The flexible nature of the floorpanels permits an outward folding or buckling of the floor along itslongitudinal centerline to thereby completely collapse the house into afolded condition.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,758 discloses an animal house which is particularlyadaptable for use with cats. The house is formed of an elongated baseadapted to stand substantially vertical and a platform at the upper endof the house to form an animal perch. The base is formed of a singlepiece of self-supporting material with appropriate fold lines beingprovided by either areas of weakening or by rigid material at thelocation of the fold lines or by appropriate hinges to permit folding.The base can be formed of three separate panels folded into athree-sided figure of triangular cross section.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,096 discloses a curvilinear, four-sided pyramidalcontainer for housing and carriage of small household pets. Thecontainer provides a flexible fabric cover which defines optionallycoverable mesh windows and an optionally coverable openable access doorstructure. The container carries a rigid bottom insert and is supportedby a rod frame having a square, releasably interconnected bottom elementformed of four interconnected semi-rigid rods and two arched,resiliently deformable support rods extending upwardly between opposedcorners of the structure, all said rods carried in loops defined on theinner surface of the cover. The support rods are selectively removableto allow assembly and collapse of the structure for storage.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,710 discloses a collapsible doghouse to be usedindoors or outdoors, to provide a comfortable and easy to clean placefor a dog to rest or seek shade. The doghouse includes elongated sidewalls, a pair of distal walls, one of which includes an archedentranceway and another of which includes a cutout drainage slot, a roofportion, and a weightable base portion, all of which are securely, yeteasily removably connected, and are formed of a substantially solid, yetflexible, water repellent plastic which will facilitate easy cleaningand drainage, and lightweight transportation.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,618 discloses a collapsible animal enclosurecomprising a house unit with spaced side walls and a roof of pliablematerial, and opposite ends forming an enclosed area for housing ananimal. Support bows extend transversely across the sidewalls and rooffor holding the sidewalls and roof in an open, spread apart condition.The house unit can be collapsed between a fully erect condition and acollapsed condition in which the ends are pushed inwardly towards oneanother, collapsing a pliable material between the ends in anaccordion-folded manner.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,681 discloses an animal house, including a cap, abase, four posts and four walls secured together. Both the cap and baseinclude a groove formed in the inner peripheral portion, and the postseach include two slots for engaging with the edges of the walls so as tosolidly secure the walls in place. The animal house may be folded into acompact configuration.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,686 discloses a disposable, collapsible pet housefoldable from a unitary blank of material received in a flat state, thehouse being foldable from the blank between a collapsed state forshipping, storage and disposal and an enclosed, erect state for use.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,454 discloses a collapsible structure having frontand back ends with front and back support members including a singlecentral support member to pass in direct line along the cover means andthus support the entire structure at roughly the center of the covermeans. The item may be sewn and easily manufactured in a fashion so thatupon being collapsed it occupies the smallest possible volume and has nooverlapping support members.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,098 discloses a collapsible cage for dogs or rabbitscomprising a rectangular base, fold-down end walls and folding sidewalls and a roof. The walls and roof are made of metal grids. The endwalls fold down onto the base one over the other. The sidewalls fold inthe middle and are hinged at the top to opposite edges of the roofallowing the sidewalls and roof to collapse onto the base over the endwalls. The base has a pull out tray and a pan and an access door isprovided in one of the end walls. Releasable clips are provided to holdthe walls and roof together in an elevated position of the structure.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,502 discloses a collapsible pet home having a base,side walls, end walls and a roof which can be converted into an exercisepen for the pet by folding the end walls down onto the base, setting thebase on end, and using the base, side walls and roof to form peripheralwalls of the exercise pen. The entire structure is said to fold downinto a compact package.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,331 discloses a pet housing expandable to hold a petand collapsible to suitcase size for manual transport including a pairof platforms and first and second pairs of spaced walls. The walls arepivotally attached at opposite ends of the platform and are hinged atintermediate positions for collapse and expansion.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,470 discloses a collapsible system which can be usedfor portable pet houses, as well as for emergency housing in ties ofdisaster. When using this system, the structure will collapse by pushingin the sides from the middle, and by letting the front and back foldonto each other.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,028 discloses a pet carrier including a main andinsert unit. The main unit defines a carrying space having a closedbottom and four sides, one of which has an opening therethrough largeenough to permit an animal to enter the space through the opening. Theinsert unit has a closed top, four sides, and an open bottom. After theanimal has entered the main unit, the insert unit is lowered down intothe main unit to close off the side opening. Then a foldable top closurefor the main unit is folded to secure the carrier and form a handlestructure for carrying the carrier. Both units are foldable and arestructured to provide an enhanced strength carrier.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,006,713 discloses a collapsible dog house with twoopposite side walls, a front wall, a rear wall, a roof and a floor whichare separable components, preferably made of marine plywood. The floorand roof are provided with rectangular skirts. The sidewalls are notchedand grooved to interfit with the skirts and front and rear walls.Interlocking means are provided on the two skirts so that when theskirts are in confronting abutment they define the perimeter of a casewhose sides are the roof and floor of the dog house.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,109,427 discloses a foldable structure considered to beprimarily useful as a doghouse. The structure is foldable between anexpanded configuration in which parallel sidewalls are connected by atop, a bottom and parallel ends and a folded configuration in which theside walls are adjacent to one another. In order to achieve a foldingaction, the top, bottom and the ends each consists of a set of twoparts. The parts of each of these sets extend beyond the sidewalls. Afirst group of hinges are used to pivotally connect the parts of each ofthe sets to the sidewalls. The second group of hinges are employed toconnect the parts of each set midway between the sidewalls.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,195,593 discloses a portable pet-house which defines anA-frame, the roof panel of which are pivoted at the top such that theyare collapsible into a generally planar, carrying mode, preferably beingfloor and end wall members carried internally between the roof panelswhen the unit is in its portable mode.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,467,572 discloses a collapsible dwelling for animals,including a plurality of elements hingedly joined with each other whichwhen in assembled relationship, cooperatively define an enclosuresuitable for pets. All elements are hinged strategically since theelements can be partially disassembled and he aggregate parts stackedone upon the other, for inclusion within a container having a length andwidth no greater than that of the largest elements.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,428 discloses a sleeping bag for pets formed from amultiple ply padded sheet of deeply quilted material which is normallyfolded along its central portion with opposite halves in overlyingrelationship to form lower and upper layers and with the edge portionsof each half in alignment with each other.

PCT Application No. WO 97/47185 discloses a house for feeding smallanimals, especially dogs or cats made of a folded section of cardboardor other foldable material with an essentially square lower sectionforming a bottom and side walls and a roof shaped upper section, wherethe lower section has an access aperture for the animal. The lower andupper sections are made in one piece from a folded section, where theupper section can be fitted on and secure the lower section where thereis t least one removable inlay of corrugated cardboard or anotherabsorbent material covering the bottom.

European Patent 0742 999B1 discloses an animal shelter, comprising a boxhaving at least one strip curtain made of elastic material in front ofan entrance to the box interior, characterized in that the strips arefastened in a releasable and in particular too-free, exchangeable mannerin a clamp mounting which is fastened to the box.

Finally, as it relates to background art concerning foldable/collapsiblestructures, European Patent Application 0 3667 626 A1 discloses aportable folding shelter for domestic animals. The shelter comprises apair of sidewalls articulated at the top edges thereof to a respectivesloping element in turn articulated to a central element, a rear and afront apertured wall articulated to the side edges of the sidewalls andeach foldable along a middle vertical line, the roof of the shelterbeing provided with a withdrawing holding handle.

Turning to a background consideration relating to pet carriers, it isnoted that a variety of pet carriers have been also been reported in theprior art, all aimed in one form or another to facilitate pettransportation. Specifically, pet carriers are commonly used by petowners for carrying their pets on trips or as a means for containing thepets when the pets are shipped from one point to another. Pet carriersalso commonly double as sleeping quarters for the pet as the owner maycontain the pet overnight to prevent the pet from wandering andpotentially damaging the home or hotel room in which the owner isoccupying.

There are, however, some shortcomings inherent to common pet carriers.During transport, the pet will require food and water and periodicallywill need to relieve its bodily functions. In addition, the food andwater itself, which are placed in the pet carrier, may be overturned bythe pet or by carrier movement during transportation. Accordingly, ineither case, the pet carriers to date have been inadequate in theirability to efficiently deal with such problems and to provide the petwith a stable hygienic environment.

For example, some common pet carriers currently available have beenadvertised in the “R.C. Steele Wholesale Pet Supply Catalog”, Brockport,N.Y., which illustrates “Doskocil Kennels” as a lightweight, portablekennel designed for safe transportation. Also shown is the “Vari-Kennel”design that contains what is described as a “dial latch system” for easeof assembly. However, neither of these designs display any aspect of howto preserve a sanitary condition in the specific carrier should theanimal be forced to relieve itself.

More specifically, reviewing the patent literature as it applies to petcarriers begins with U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,028, entitled “Pet Carrier”which discloses a carrier including a main unit and an insert unit. Themain unit defines a carrying space having a closed bottom and foursides, one of which has an opening therethrough large enough to permitan animal to enter the space through the opening, and the insert unithas a closed top, four sides, and an open bottom. After the animal hasentered the main unit, the insert unit is lowered down into the mainunit to close off the side opening. Then a foldable top closure for themain unit is folded to secure the carrier and form a handle structurefor carrying the carrier. Both units are foldable and are structured toprovide an enhanced strength carrier.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,107 entitled “Pet Carrier” discloses a container formanually transporting a pet having a litter box, food container andwater container therein and sliding doors accessible from the exteriorof the container for selectively closing the litter box, food containerand water container to prevent inadvertent spillage. The container mayalso include a single compartment or two detachably connectedcompartments in order that a liter box compartment may be selectivelyseparated from a food and water compartment. Detachable handles areprovided in order that each separate compartment of the dual compartmentembodiment may be carried separately or as a unified compartment.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,392, entitled “Pet Carrier” discloses a corrugatedplastic pet carrier with two side panels. A side panel fold line extendsbetween the base panel and each side panel. In addition, a diagonal foldline is said to extend from each corner of the base panel to a firstmedian fold line for collapsing the base panel, side panels and endpanels inwardly for collapsing the container from an erect position to acollapsed, generally flat position, and back to an erect position.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,698 entitled “Pet Carrier” discloses a pet housinghaving a rigid bottom panel enclosed in a bottom cover which is attachedto a plastic mesh which is shaped to form the pet carrier sides and top.The plastic mesh is attached to inverted U shaped rigid frame memberswhich hold the shape of the sides and top as well as provide structuralsupport to protect the pet being transported. The pet carrier has a rearend panel and door of plastic mesh to complete the enclosure. There is aprovision for a tray and absorbent pad in the bottom of the pet carrierfor hygiene as well as a cover to protect the pet from the environment.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,294, entitled “Pet Carrier for Vehicles” discloses apet carrier for use in a vehicle comprising a platform sized togenerally fit on the passenger seat. Front, rear and side panels arepivotally connected to the platform for movement between generallyhorizontal positions and upright positions wherein they form a petenclosure upstanding from the platform.

Attention is directed to U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,772 entitled “Pet CarrierAbsorbent Pad” which discloses an absorbent pad designed to be used withpet carriers to absorb liquids that may be present. Specifically, thepad is said to contain an absorbent layer having first and second sides,a first single direction moisture conveyor positioned proximate to atleast one side of the absorbent layer for allowing moisture to passtoward the absorbent layer and for resisting passage of moisture out ofsaid absorbent layer. A second single direction moisture conveyor ispositioned proximate to said second side of said absorbent layer,wherein the first and second direction moisture conveyors are orientedabout said absorbent layer so that moisture travels across said moistureconveyors only toward said absorbent layer.

Finally, as it relates to background art concerning pet carriers,attention is also directed to U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,540 entitled,“Collapsible, Portable Domestic Pet Cage”, which discloses acollapsible, portable domestic pet cage for carrying with a pet keepersuch domestic pets as dogs, cats and the like, wherein bent portions ofthe cage can be readily constructed using any connection means andfixing means, and when collapsed dimensionally in small form, the wholecircumferential walls of the cage is accomodated between vertical wallsof a ceiling plate and erected walls of a receptacle plate or dish so asto be made dimensionally in a small size.

Turning next to a background consideration relating to portable storagedesigns for the purpose of, e.g., providing the consumer a convenientmethod to store and transport perishable goods, the following summary isprovided.

First, U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,228 discloses a collapsible cooler havingfour side walls hingedly attached to a bottom panel. Each of the fourside walls is composed of two trapezoidal subassemblies hingedlyconnected about a center longitudinal axis, such that the twosubassemblies meet along the shorter edge of the trapezoid. The sidewalls further comprises flexible corner panels. The top of the containercomprises a lid which is hingedly attached to the long side of one ofthe upper side wall subassemblies. This construction allows thecontainer to be collapsed downward by pushing on the top panel.Similarly, the container is expanded by pulling up on a strap which isattached to two opposing upper side wall subassemblies. The coolerfurther contains sealed modules of “blue ice”, which is a heat transfermaterial composed of water and glycol, or a similar heat transfermaterial, contained within the panels of the container.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,276 discloses a collapsible container/cooler whichhas four side walls pivotally connected to a bottom panel in such amanner that the four walls can pivot inward to lie flat on one anotherin a manner parallel to the bottom panel. The container furthercomprises an insulated liner, which is permanently attached to twoopposing walls and detachably connected to the remaining two walls, andan insulated, removable lid. The container is structurally supported bysnaps which serve to lock the side walls in position. When these snapsare engaged they constrain the movement of the side-walls, therebycreating a rigid, right rectangular container.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,852 discloses an inflatable box composed of sixinflatable panels integrally connected so as to form a rectangular boxhaving a top, bottom, first and second end, and first and second side.The joint between each of the panels consists of a defined fold line.Additionally, integral with, and therefore connecting adjacent edges ofadjacent end and side panels, is a rectangular web of non-inflatablematerial such that when the box is assembled, with the sides and endsnormal to the bottom panel, the two webs on each end of the bottom panelwill fold across the outside of the end panels so as to providestructural support for the assembled box and therein complete the box ina fluid-tight configuration. The insulating character of the assembledbox derives from the air-pockets of the inflated panels.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,766 discloses a collapsible ice chest made fromcorrugated paper. The container is constructed from a rectangular sheetthat is folded to create a bottom panel and four side walls with gussetpanels which fold over onto the sides, such that the container createdis free from any leaks. The ice chest is supplied to the consumer withthe bottom pre-filled with ice and the majority of the vertical expanseof the side walls folded down parallel to the bottom panel therebycreating a covered ice tray of relatively low profile and small volume.The ice chest is further supplied with a lid that telescopes onto thecontainer, even when folded into the ice tray configuration in thedescribed manner. At time of use, the container is removed from coldstorage, and the side walls are folded into a vertical configuration,therein creating a ready to use ice chest. This ice chest is intended tobe cheap and largely disposable, however it is disclosed that afterbeing used the container can be emptied and folded back into its initialconfiguration, thereby greatly reducing its size, and reused simply byre-expanding the side walls in the previously described manner.

Accordingly, upon extensive review of all the prior art noted above, itis first apparent that a completely foldable, collapsible structure,suitable as a shelter for a pet, comprised of lightweight materialhaving excellent thermal insulating features and ease ofassembly/disassembly, remains generally unavailable. Therefore, it is afirst object to overcome the disadvantages of the various structuresnoted above, and prepare a foldable, collapsible structure which is moreeconomical to manufacture and purchase, and which can readily beconverted into a compact condition for ease of storage and/or transportand also presents itself in an attractive or classic-looking doghousedesign when fully deployed. Yet another object of this invention is toprovide a foldable/collapsible structure suitable for a pet which simpleto set up, take down and convert from one use to another.

Furthermore, with respect to the extensive review of the prior artrelated to pet carriers, although certain pet carrier designs have beendisclosed which are, as noted, collapsible, and although absorbent padsof certain construction are known, there remains an on-going demand fora pet carrier design which more efficiently deals with liquid wastebuild-up, and which also collapses into a substantially flatconfiguration for ease of storage/transportation when not in use. Statedanother way, pet carriers to date have shown themselves to be relativelybulky and heavy thereby failing to provide a simple, lightweight andportable pet carrier which provides both comfort and good hygiene forthe pet, and also provides a safe/sturdy structure for protection duringtransport.

Accordingly, it is also a general object of this invention to provide apet carrier that is conveniently collapsible for storage, and whichprovides both the pet and the pet owner with a advantageous method todeal with liquid animal waste which occurs in the carrier over extendedperiods of time.

More specifically, it is also an object of this invention to provide apet carrier design that allows for ease of cleaning of animal waste, andwhich isolates the animal from the liquid waste when the pet is forcedto remain in the carrier after relieving itself. Furthermore, it is alsoan object of this invention to provide a more humane method oftransporting pets. That is, it is an object of the invention herein toprovide a pet carrier construction wherein the pet can be provided withessential liquid nourishment when in transport without fear of the petbecoming exposed to unsanitary and unhealthy conditions due to theevolution of a soiled environment.

Finally, and once again, as can be seen from the above review of theprior art, while various attempts have been made to provide consumerproducts such as a break-apart cooler, there remains an on-going need toimprove upon such designs in order to provide a more durable yetcollapsible configuration, that readily converts from a portable coolermode to storage mode with minimal hand operation.

It is therefore also an additional object of this invention to providesuch a new and improved collapsible cooler design which is of theaforementioned durable and reliable construction, and which alsoprovides a waterproof enclosure for ice cooling, and makes use of livingtype hinge structure along with a strategic placement of hinge points inthe cooler walls for collapsibility and ease of transport. In addition,it is also an object of this invention to provide a portable andcollapsible structure that would be suitable, for example, to restrictaccess to consumer waste containers and the like, and which wouldreadily provide the consumer with a convenient, sanitary, andcosmetically pleasing alternative for storing waste containers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front-end view of the collapsible/foldable structure of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a front-end view of the collapsible/foldable structure of thepresent invention, in a partially collapsed/folded state.

FIG. 3 is a front-end view of the collapsible/foldable structure of thepresent invention, in a fully collapsed/folded state.

FIG. 4 is a front/side view of the collapsible/foldable structure of thepresent invention, in a partially collapsed/folded state.

FIG. 5 is an exploded side/front view of the collapsible/foldablestructure of the present invention, illustrating an optional clip-onchimney feature with solar-powered fan.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the optional assembly recess and locationrecess for improved stability of the foldable/collapsible structure whenin assembled condition.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are exploded views of appropriately identified designatedsections of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of one preferred embodiment petcarrier/portable structure design.

FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of the pet carrier removabletray.

FIG. 11 illustrates a front perspective view of a preferred pet carrierdesign.

FIG. 12 illustrates a side perspective view of a preferred pet carrierdesign in partially collapsed configuration.

FIG. 13 illustrates a front perspective view of a preferred pet carrierdesign in partially collapsed configuration.

FIG. 14 illustrates a front perspective view of the preferred petcarrier design in a fully collapsed configuration.

FIG. 15 illustrates yet another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is which a perforated removable tray is supported by ribbedsupports on the bottom of the pet carrier/portable habitat.

FIG. 16 provides a plan view of the pet carrier/portable habitat of FIG.15.

FIGS. 17 and 18 provide alternative front sectional view of the petcarrier/portable habitat of FIG. 15.

FIG. 19 provides a more detailed side sectional view of the front doorsection of the pet carrier/portable habitat.

FIG. 20 is yet another front sectional view, illustrating the optionaluse of food and water dispensers.

FIG. 21 is a side sectional view of the pet carrier/portable habitat ofFIG. 15.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the invention herein as a collapsiblecooler.

FIG. 23 is a side sectional view of the invention herein along lines A—Aof FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is perspective view of the collapsible cooler in a partiallycollapsed configuration.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the collapsible cooler in a fullycollapsed configuration.

SUMMARY

In summary form, and in a first embodiment, the invention herein relatesto a collapsible/foldable structure comprising a top roof and a bottomplatform defining a top and bottom of said structure, and a verticallydisposed lower side section on said bottom platform. Front and rearcollapsible walls are provided, each pivotally attached to saidvertically disposed side section to provide for pivotal collapse of saidfront and rear walls. The front wall has an opening for egress andingress of an animal. A pair of sidewalls are included each pivotallyattached to said roof to facilitate inward collapse of said sidewallswhen said sidewalls are pivoted toward said bottom platform, saidsidewalls defined by an upper and middle section including said lowervertically disposed side section, wherein said upper and middle sectionsare pivotally attached to one another and said middle and lower sectionare pivotally attached to one another so that said upper and middlesidewall sections can be pivoted inwardly towards said bottom platform.The top roof optionally comprises two roof sections pivotally attachedto one another so that said two roof sections can collapse downwardlyalong said pivotable attachment toward said bottom platform. Thesidewalls contain an outer and inner surface thereof, and said upper andmiddle sidewalls are pivotally attached by a continuous outer surface ofsaid sidewalls.

In yet another summary embodiment, the present invention relates to acollapsible/foldable structure comprising a top roof and a bottomplatform defining a top and bottom of said structure and a verticallydisposed lower side section on said bottom platform. Front and rearwalls are included, said front wall having an opening for egress andingress of an animal. The structure also includes a pair of sidewallseach pivotally attached to said roof to facilitate inward collapse ofsaid sidewalls when said sidewalls are pivoted toward said bottomplatform, said sidewalls defined by an upper and middle sectionincluding said lower vertically disposed side section, wherein saidupper and middle sections are pivotally attached to one another and saidmiddle and lower sections are pivotally attached to one another so thatsaid upper and middle sidewall sections can be pivoted inwardly towardssaid bottom platform. At least one of said pivotal attachments of saidsidewalls is optionally a living hinge substantially along the length ofsaid sidewall.

In still yet another summary embodiment, the present invention relates acollapsible consumer container such as a foldable/collapsible structurefor storing perishable goods comprising a horizontally disposed bottompanel and a vertically disposed side section, a top panel, a pair ofside panels defined by upper and middle side sections including saidvertically disposed side section, including first and second end panels.The first end panel and second end panel are then hingedly attached tosaid vertically disposed side section to provide for pivotal collapse ofsaid first and second end panel, and said upper side section is hingedlyconnected to said top panel and said middle side section, and saidmiddle section is hingedly connected to said vertically disposed sidesection, wherein said side panels can be pivoted inwardly towards saidbottom panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning next to a more detailed description of the various preferredembodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1, thecollapsible/foldable structure of the present invention is showngenerally at 10, and comprising sidewalls 12 and 14. Sidewalls 12 and 14contain an upper 16, middle 18 and lower generally vertically disposedsection 20. As can be seen, the sidewalls contain a pivot 22 preferablydisposed on the outer surface of the sidewalls 12 and 14, and a pivot24, preferably disposed on the inside surface of the sidewall, such thatwhen collapsing said sidewalls (see FIG. 2) the upper 16 and middle 18sidewalls collapse inwardly and towards the bottom platform 26. Inaddition, upper sidewall 16 is pivotally attached to either roof section28 and 30 at 17.

As also shown in FIG. 1, the collapsible/foldable structure 10 furthercontains a front wall 29 which preferably defines the front portalopening. Preferably, and as also shown in FIG. 1, the opening is of aportal/circular configuration of the classic pet-shelter or doghousedesign. In addition, structure 10 further contains a top roof sectioncomprising two roof sections pivotally attached to one another at 32, sothat roof sections 28 and 30 can collapse downwardly along saidpivotable attachment 32 toward said bottom platform 26.

In that regard, attention is directed to FIG. 2, which illustrates thecollapsible/foldable structure of the present invention in a partiallycollapsed state. As illustrated therein, the upper 16 and middlesidewall sections are collapsed and disposed inward in the structure 10and begin to assume the fully collapsed planar position, bestillustrated in FIG. 3. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, preferably, front wall29, which is pivotally attached to vertically disposed section 20, isalso made to collapse inwardly to rest on bottom section 26, andpreferably, rear wall 34, which is also pivotably attached to verticallydisposed section 20, also collapses inwardly and rests upon front wall29 when in a fully collapsed state. Those skilled in the art, however,will recognize that it may also be preferable to modify such pivotableattachment to facilitate the resting of front wall 29 on top of rearwall 34, when again, in a collapsed state.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, front wall 29 may contain, at a sectiondisposed directly beneath pivot location 32, an opening, preferably ofsemi-circular configuration, to facilitate ventilation of the structure.Such opening can also be optionally placed in the rear wall 34.

Attention is next directed to FIG. 3, which illustrates the presentinvention in a fully collapsed condition. As can be seen in FIG. 3, theinteraction of pivot points 17, 22, 24, as well as the inward collapseof the front 28 and rear collapsible walls 34 which are pivotallyattached to the bottom section 26 provide the unique and previouslyunavailable ability to collapse the classic pet shelter designillustrated in FIG. 1 into a substantially flat, readily transportablestructure.

Turning next to FIG. 4, as better illustrated therein, front wall 29 isshown as pivoting inwardly into structure along pivot edge 36. Withattention next directed to FIG. 5, structure 10 is shown in cut-awayview with respect to bottom section 26. More specifically, bottomsection 26 preferably contains a hollow section 41 in which sand orother weight or load material can be incorporated, to strategically addweight to the bottom section to facilitate placement stability. Inaddition, as also shown in FIG. 5, the structure 10 may optionallycontain an attached chimney type feature, which in preferred embodiment,is configured to contain a solar-powered fan so that the animal or petinside shelter 10 is treated to improved ventilation.

In addition, in preferred embodiment, it can be appreciated that certainexposed surface of shelter 10 may be vulnerable to chewing anddestruction by a pet, and therefore, should preferably be protected fromsuch action by the strategic placement of protection material. In thatregard, attention is again directed to FIG. 5, wherein exposed and/oroverhanging surfaces 38 of the roof section or front entrance arepreferably protected with a layer of material that restricts the abilityof the animal to chew on such exposed surfaces and destroy thestructure. Accordingly, exposed surfaces are preferably furtherprotected with plastic sheeting materials, including, but not limited topolyolefins, vinyl polymers, styrene based polymers,acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resins, vinyl polymer resins,engineering thermoplastics, and thermoset type resins or coatings whichwould all provide the necessary barrier to chewing destruction of ananimal.

In addition, as also illustrated in FIG. 5, preferably, bottom platform26 preferably contains a hollow section 41 for the incorporation of aballast material, such as sand, to improve the weight of structure 10for purposes of positioning stability. Alternatively, bottom platformcan be made from a material that is itself of greater weight relative tothe sidewall and/or roof section.

With all of the above in mind, it is herein disclosed that preferably,the materials employed for the structure 10 are first selected fromthose materials that provide thermal insulation, and accordingly,include expanded type polymer materials, preferably foam materials,optionally containing a film type surface. Along those lines, and againwith reference to FIG. 1, roof sections 28 and 30, as well as sidewallsections 16, 18 and 20, front wall section 29, rear wall section 34, andbottom platform 26 are all preferably made from expanded polymeric foammaterial, such as expanded or foamed polystyrene material, which foammaterial may contain an film surface of high-impact polystyrene. Inaddition, other foam materials are suitable, including but not limitedto polyurethane type foam materials, polyurea/urethane, polyurea, trimerfoam, etc. Accordingly, in broad embodiment, any synthetic foam materialthat provides thermal insulation and temperature control of the interiorof the foldable/collapsible structure will be suitable for constructionof the present invention.

Furthermore, the above identified sections of FIG. 1 can also besuitably prepared from non-foamed plastic material, or, for that matter,plastic material which provides a void or null space between sectionsthereof, which would also similarly provide thermal insulationcharacteristics. Moreover, the structure of the present invention can beprepared from structural type foam material, which, is preferably madefrom engineering type plastic resins such as polycarbonate resin. Asthose skilled in the art are aware, structural foam material, whileperhaps not as efficient as expanded or cellular type foam material,still can provide thermal insulation efficiency, while at the same time,structural integrity to the various compents (sidewalls, bottomplatform, roof section) of the present invention.

In addition, it is also possible to prepare structure 10 out of materialmade from such techniques as gas-assisted injection molding. Suchprocess, which preferably makes use of gases such as nitrogen, providesan inert gas to the interiors (null space) of the sidewalls 12 and 14,roof sections 28 and 30, front wall 29 and rear wall 34. In addition,said structural components can also be made hollow and optionallycontain common thermal insulation media such as fiberglass or cellulosetype material.

When foam material is employed in the present invention, it has alsobeen found preferable to include, on the outer layer of the foam (i.e.,that surface exposed to weather) a film protective layer that preventsweather damage to the foam layer, and also provides a better or improvedcosmetic appearance. That is, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the film layer can be made to assume a wood-like grain appearance,such that the structure 10 takes on the appearance of a wood structure,which is cosmetically pleasing to the consumer. In that regard, aparticularly preferred embodiment centers on the use of expandedpolystyrene foam for the structure 10, and an outer film layer, also ofpolystyrene resin. Insulating expanded polystyrene will preferably havea thickness on the order of 1.25 cm or more to provide an insulatinglayer to keep the occupant of the structure warm in cold weather, andcool in hot weather.

On that note, the outer film material can also conveniently serve as anintegral type hinge material. For example, pivots 32, 17, 22 and 24, asshown in FIG. 1, can of course, comprise an add-on standard type hingeconstruction, and can therefore be of sufficient number (running alongthe length of the structure) to effectuate the foldable/collapsiblemechanism herein described. Alternatively, said pivots can also run theentire length of the structure, and be made of a polyolefin(polypropylene), which therefore provides a living-hinge characteristicto the present invention. Again, the living hinge can be either anon-integral feature of the roof, sidewalls, and bottom section (i.e. anadd-on), or, alternatively, can be integral to said structuralcomponents as illustrated in the drawings.

Finally, attention is directed to FIGS. 6–8, which illustrates, amongother things, that in preferred embodiment, bottom vertical sidewallsection 20 is made to rest within bottom platform 26. In addition,preferably, the front and rear walls are made to contain a locationrecess 42 and an assembly recess 44. Accordingly, those skilled in theart will appreciate that the location recess 42 and assembly recess 44will, in optional embodiment, improve and lock roof sections 28 and 30to said front and rear side wall sections, thereby providing improved,but by no means necessary, structural integrity to thecollapsible/foldable structure of the present invention.

While preferred embodiments of the invention provide that the front andrear walls are hingedly attached to the vertical sidewall section 20 sothat they can be folded inwardly and beneath the side walls and roof,they can be physically removed from the front and rear openings. When inthe open position, the front and rear walls act to further support thesides and roof, and when the front and rear walls are completely removedfrom the structure they can be either placed on top of the structure,inside or underneath and then optionally be bound up with suitablefastening so that the complete structure can be shipped as one package.

In all of the above structures, it is also noted that the sidewallsections 16, 18 and 20 will hinge on either the inner surface or theouter surface of said sidewalls depending upon whether the hinge ismoving outwardly or inwardly during the collapsing motion. That is,placing the hinge on the inner or outer sidewall becomes necessarybecause of the thickness required for the preferred double wallconstruction, which, as noted, provides an open region for insulation.

In addition to the above, the upper portion 16 of the sidewall, which ishinged at 22 to the sidewall 18, may be connected to a flat roofsection. The central flat section with the two upper sidewalls (whichwould now be inwardly sloping) would then form the roof of the house.This type of optional configuration is illustrated, in part, in FIG. 18,as applied to the related pet carrier. In this preferred alternativeembodiment of this form of the invention, the hinges are positioned onthe inner and outer edges of the walls adjacent the inner and outeredges as required for proper collapsing action.

A preferred pet carrier/portable structure design in accordance with thepresent invention is now illustrated in FIG. 9. As shown therein, thepet carrier 110 contains a bottom panel 112 and tray 114 removablyplaced on the bottom panel, a top panel 116, a left panel 118, a rightpanel 120 and a first end panel 122 containing a screen door section124. In addition, the carrier contains a folding handle 126 which restswithin recess 128. Also shown about the carrier 110 are air holes 130.As shown in FIG. 9, the first end panel 122 is hingedly attached tovertical side panel 113 so that end panel 122 can be readily made tocollapse inwardly into carrier 110. In a similar manner, carrier 110also preferably contains a second end panel (not shown) at the rear ofthe carrier that is also hingedly attached to the vertical side panel113 so that it too can be made to collapse inwardly into the carrier 110when the carrier 110 is not in use.

With attention directed at both FIGS. 9 and 10, the tray 114 is shown tohave a screen material 132 which screen material preferably rests on topof the tray 114. The screen material 132 therefore conveniently allowsfor passage of liquid into the tray but also simultaneously supports thepet above any liquid passing into tray 114, thereby providing animproved sanitary condition for the pet over extended periods of time.

In that regard, screen 132 is preferably constructed from a double layerof screen material. That is, screen 132 preferably contains a top layerof fine mesh/screen material to allow for both fluid passage whilepreventing a paw or nail of the animal from falling therethrough andbecoming dangerously affixed to said mesh/screen material. Accordingly,such upper layer of mesh/screen material is preferably made close enoughin opening to be comfortable for the animal to walk upon when the animalis placed within the carrier. This upper layer of fine mesh is thenplaced upon a lower structural grid screen which is therein designed tosupport the animal's weight. With respect to this preferred use of adouble layer of screen material, it has been found that the top layer ispreferably of mesh size or sieve size No. 400 to about 0.25 (nominalopening of 0.0038 cm to 0.635 cm as noted in the “Handbook of Chemistryand Physics CRC, 58^(th) Edition, Standard Test Sieves-Wire Cloth”) andcan be made from plastic or metallic type screen/mesh material. At suchscreen/mesh size, and as noted, the mesh will conveniently allow forpassage of liquids, which of course include liquids spilled by theanimal and/or liquid waste produced by the animal if forced to urinatein the carrier. The lower structural layer can then be readilyfabricated from larger and heavier mesh/screen size material, such as,e.g., mesh size of greater than about 0.635 cm to, e.g., 12.7 cm, whichcorresponds to a nominal opening of 0.635 cm to about 12.7 cm. The lowerstructural layer has as its purpose to support the load of the animal,while again, allowing for fluid passage.

Alternatively, those skilled in the art will appreciate that screen 132can be made of a simple monolayer type screen/mesh construction, whichmonolayer similarly achieves the goal of allowing for fluid passage andacts to prevent a paw or nail from falling through and becoming lodgedtherein, which could cause injury to the animal. However, if monolayerconstruction is the choice, the monolayer itself must be madesufficiently strong/rigid to support the animal's weight containedtherein. In that regard, it has been found suitable to use a monolayertype screen/mesh material of a mesh size for positioning on tray 114 sothat tray 114 acts to collect liquid or liquid waste and simultaneouslysupports the animal above such captured liquids. In that regard, themesh size can again be preferably made in the range of mesh size No. 400to 0.25. However, this is only a preferred range, and as noted above,the selection of mesh size is done to accommodate passage of fluids andto prevent injury to the animal by preventing the animal's paw or nailfrom becoming trapped.

FIG. 11 shows a front perspective view of the carrier 110. Asillustrated therein, the screen door section 124 is preferably hinged at134 to the end panel 122 and also preferably contains a latch 136. Asalso shown in FIG. 11, the tray 114 rests in the bottom panel 112, andthe folding handle is again shown at 126.

Attention is next directed to FIG. 12, which provides a side perspectiveview of a preferred pet carrier design in partially collapsedconfiguration. As seen therein, first end panel 122 containing screendoor 124 is hingedly collapsed inwardly into the pet carrier. Similarly,second end panel 138 is hingedly collapsed into the pet carrier, whichcollapsing first end panel 122 and second end panel 138 initiates thefolding of the carrier into a substantially flat construction for easeof storage. Also, as shown in this particular preferred embodiment, endpanel 138 is hingedly connected to vertical side panel 113.

However, while FIG. 12 illustrates the preferred configuration hereinwhere the first end panel 122 and second end panel 138 are hingedlyconnected to the vertical side panel 113, it will be appreciated thatend panels 122 and 138 can simply be made so that they are releasablyengaged to the pet carrier, e.g., by a mechanical attachment such as asnap-fit or wing-nuts with quick release. In that manner the end panelscan be easily released/removed from the pet carrier and/or placed withinthe pet carrier for the purposes of shipping/storage. Furthermore,although not specifically illlustrated, it is worth noting that eitherof the end panels 122 or 138 are preferably made with a non-frictionaltype locking mechanism which locks the front and rear walls as betweenthemselves as the roof section.

FIG. 13 illustrates a front perspective view of a preferred pet carrierdesign in partially collapsed configuration. As shown therein, thepanels 118 or 120 are both hingedly connected at 140 to top panel 116.In addition, a hinged connection is shown at 142 and a further hingeconnection is placed at 144, which connection 144 connects the panels118 and 120 to the bottom section 144. As shown in FIG. 13, suchstrategic placement of hinges 140, 142 and 144 allows for the panels 118and 120 to collapse downwardly into a substantially flat collapsedconfiguration, as shown in FIG. 14. That is, with attention to FIG. 14,handle 126 is made to rest in a recess in the top panel 116, panels 118and 120 are in a fully collapsed state, as well as panels 122 and 138.In this collapsed state, it can be seen that tray 114 still convenientlyrests within bottom panel 114. Accordingly, it can be appreciated thatin the collapsed state shown in FIG. 14, the pet carrier design hereincan be conveniently stored or transported for further use.

Finally, with attention again directed at FIG. 13, as illustratedtherein, hinge connections 140, 142 and 144 are arranged such thatpanels 118 and 120 collapse inwardly into the carrier. That being thecase, the hinge 140 is preferably hinged so that the hinge itself ispositioned on the inside surface of panels 118 and 120; i.e., the hingeis inside the carrier as shown in FIG. 13. Hinge connection 142, as alsoshown in FIG. 13, is itself positioned on the outside surface of panels118 and 120, and finally, hinge 144 is preferably designed so that thehinge is connected to the inside surface of panels 118 and 120. Suchpositioning of the hinge connections 140, 142 and 144 thereby facilitatethe collapse of the panels 118 and 120, downwardly, into thesubstantially flat configuration shown in FIG. 14.

Accordingly, in optional embodiment, the left panel 118 and right panel120 as disclosed herein can be made to contain an upper, middle andlower sections, wherein said upper and middle sections are pivotally orhingedly attached to one another and said middle and lower section arealso pivotally or hingedly attached to one another so that said upperand middle panel sections can be pivoted or hinged inwardly towards saidbottom panel 112.

On that note, hinges 140, 142, and 144, as shown in FIG. 13, maycomprise an add-on standard mechanical type plastic or metallic hingeconstruction, and can therefore be of sufficient number (running alongthe length of the structure) to effectuate the foldable/collapsiblemechanism herein described. Alternatively, said hinges can also run theentire length of the structure, and be made of a polyolefin(polypropylene), which therefore provides living-hinge characteristicsto the present invention. The living hinge can be either a non-integralfeature of the panels (i.e. an add-on), or, in alternative embodiment,can be made integral to said panels, in which case the hinge would becontiguous with the outer surface of the panels 118 and 120.

Optionally, tray 114 can be made to contain an absorbent pad, forpurposes of soaking up any liquid spilled by the animal, or liquid wasteshould the animal be forced to relieve itself when contained within thecarrier. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the tray 112 alsopreferably contains a recess at 146 which conveniently provides alocation for the consumer to hold onto the tray and remove the tray fromthe carrier for any necessary cleaning.

With regards to the preferred materials of construction, it is to benoted herein that the pet carrier panels are themselves preferablymanufactured of panels made of a plastic outer layer with a polyurethanefoam core. Such construction provides excellent thermal insulation, aswell as light-weight and durability for ease of transport. The plasticouter layer, as previously noted above, can then be preferably made froma polyethylene or polypropylene resin, to thereby provide a flexiblefilm outer layer for the purposes of forming the above noted hingesections 140, 142 and 144. In that regard, a polypropylene film wouldprovide the aforementioned living hinge structure while being integralto the outer plastic layer of the carrier panels.

With regard to yet another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, attention is directed to FIG. 15, which again illustrates thepet carrier/portable habitat 110 which bottom panel therein 112 containssupport structures 148 attached thereto. In addition, a perforatedremovable tray 150, made of plastic, is shown and which is configured torest upon support structures 148 at the bottom of the habitat 110.Optionally, the support structures can be part of the tray 150. Inaddition, the support structures 148 can be either integral with thebottom section, or a separate lift-out component.

As specifically shown, support structures 148 are preferably a ribbeddesign, of which a plurality preferably extend, as shown in FIG. 16,from the edge of the bottom section into the carrier and extend towardsa circular recessed area 152 in the bottom section 112. The circularrecessed area 152 thereby acts as a built-in collection location for anyliquid waste produced by the animal. Accordingly, within the circularrecessed area 152 it will be preferable at times to include an absorbentcollection pad.

It is also to be noted that the various structural sections of thepresent invention, such as bottom section 112, as well as panels 116,118 and 120, are preferably manufactured by a process of blow molding,which provides both an inner and outer wall structure (twin-wallconstruction) to the portable habitat herein. Such twin wallconstruction is best shown at 154 in FIG. 17, which illustrates a frontsectional view of the portable habitat. In that regard, such blow moldedwall construction provides a much safer environment for the pet, as anyimpact against the outer wall will be better absorbed in such blowmolded wall construction as opposed to a single type wall configuration.In addition, such inner and outer wall construction conveniently allowsfor the optional use of insulating foam material, which would providebetter regulation and temperature control inside the portable habitatwhen in transit, or exposed to severe temperature fluctuations.

However, in the broad context of the present invention, single wallconstruction is certainly acceptable, and indeed preferable in thosecases where a lower cost alternative design is contemplated.Furthermore, regardless of whether single wall or twin-wall constructionis present, it is also preferable herein to include, on the edges of thepanels 116, 118 and 120 a small overhanging section. This is bestillustrated at 131 in FIG. 12, which then serves to position and securethe end panels 122 and 138 as they are moved into full open position.

Also shown in FIG. 17 is the folding handle 126, and hinges 140, 142 and144, which as previously noted, can assume either a mechanical orliving-type membrane hinge configuration. For example, in a particularpreferred design, hinges 140 and 142 are both of the living type ormembrane hinge type variety, and hinge 144 can be a mechanical or pianotype hinge design. Also better illustrated in FIG. 17 is the featurethat the bottom section 112 contains a downwardly sloping surface 156which again facilitates the flow of waste fluid toward the circularrecessed area 152 which as illustrated in FIG. 17 to contain anabsorbent pad. Finally, the removable tray 150 is shown in cross-sectionalong with the general location of the ribbed supports 148.

Attention is next directed to FIG. 18, which is yet another frontsectional view of the portable habitat, illustrating the use of apreferred metallic/chrome wire door 158. In addition, as furtherillustrated in FIG. 18, the door 158 contains a spring loaded pinrelease 160 along with pins at 162 and 164, thereby releasably engagingdoor 158 to the portable habitat structure at either a left or rightlocation. With attention directed at FIG. 19, a more detailed sectionalview is provided of the pins 162 and 164. It is therefore worth notingthat by making the door 158 entirely releasable from the habitat,different doors can be employed which are more suitable for theparticular animal at issue. For example, in the case of a bird, a smallperch can be fitted to the door structure. In addition, as noted, thedoor 158 can be made to open and hinge either in a left or rightdirection.

Attention is also directed to FIG. 20, which illustrates the optionaluse of food and water dispensers 166 and 168 in the door 158. Inaccordance with the present invention, as the animal can relieve itselfwithout itself having to remain in contact with its liquid waste, thepet owner can more humanely provide the animal with liquid nourishmentduring prolonged travel periods. Finally, attention is also directed toFIG. 21, which provides a side sectional view of the portable habitatherein. As best shown in FIG. 13, a space is provided at 170 foraccommodating the front door 158 when in collapsed configuration. Inaddition, illustrated end panel 138 which contains holes 172 is itselfhinged at 174 for collapsing into the pet habitat.

Alternatively, it should again be appreciated that end panels 122 and138, while preferably hingedly connected to the portable habitat forfolding therein, may optionally be fully releasable for both removaland/or placement within the habitat during shipping and storage.

FIG. 22 illustrates the present invention, in preferred embodiment as acollapsible cooler 210 which contains a generally horizontally disposedbottom panel 212 and a vertically disposed side section 224. Asillustrated, vertical disposed side section 224 is adjacent to bottompanel 212 and can be integral thereto. The cooler 210 also contains toppanel 214, and side panels 216 and 218. Side panels 216 and 218 containan upper 220, middle 222, and vertically disposed side section 224. Thecooler 210 further contains a door or removable section 226 in the toppanel 214. Door 226 is attached to top panel 214 by means of pivot 234,such that door 226 can pivot upward, and therein allow access to theinterior of the cooler 210 for the purpose of placing items withincooler 210, or for removing items therefrom.

As illustrated in FIG. 23, cooler 210 also contains two end panels 226and 228. The two end panels 226 and 228 are preferably pivotallyattached at 232 to vertical section 224, and not to horizontal bottompanel 212. In such manner, end panel 226 can readily pivot inwardly torest upon bottom panel 212, and end panel 228 can pivot inwardly at 230to rest upon end panel 226. It is preferred that pivots 230 and 232 aredisposed on the outer edge surface of the end panels 226 and 228 tobetter facilitate the inward collapse of the end panels 226 and 228.With reference to FIG. 23, pivot locations 230 and 232 are shown withoutlower section 224. In other words, lower section 224, is not shown FIG.23, so that the location of pivots 230 and 232 can be betterillustrated.

The pivoting action at 230 and 232 is preferably provided for by amating protrusion/receptacle on the edge of the front 226 or rear panel228 and the adjacent region of the vertically disposed side section 224.The protrusion/receptacle may comprise a stud fitted into orifices ofboth the front/rear panels and the vertically disposed side section 224,a protrusion and a mating indentation, etc. It all cases, it is possibleto form each half of the pivot integral with the respective panel.

Those skilled in the art, however, will also recognize that it may inaddition be preferable to modify such pivotal/hinge attachment locationto facilitate the resting of end panel 226 on top of end panel 228 whenin collapsed state. Furthermore, those skilled in the art willappreciate that end panels 226 and 228 may not necessarily be pivotallyattached at any location, and may be designed such that they areconfigured to be completely removed and separately stored. This wouldoptionally be the case, e.g., in those situations wherein the inventionherein is applied as a simple collapsible structure for the storage ofconsumer waste containers, although other applications are clearlypossible. In such optional embodiment, end panels 226 and 228 would beassembled in such fashion to pressure fit within the collapsiblestructure herein. That is, the end panels 226 and 228 can be readilyassembled such that they are releasably engaged to the collapsiblestructure by a simple press or interference fit.

As illustrated in FIG. 24, once end panels 226 and 228 have pivotedinwardly, such that they can assume a horizontal posture atop of bottompanel 212, side panels 216 and 218 can pivot inward. The upper andmiddle sections 220 and 222 of side panels 216 and 218 are hingedlyconnected to one another about pivot 238. It is preferred that pivot 238is disposed on the exterior surface of side panel 216 and 218 to betterallow the upper and middle section 220 and 222 to fold inward so as toassume a horizontal posture wherein the exterior surfaces of the upperand middle sections 220 and 222 rest on one another. In addition, pivot238 is preferably a living hinge, extending along the length of thecooler thereof. In such regard, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat such living hinge would not only provide hinge type function, butwould simultaneously provide a seal thereof, such that liquid containedwithin the cooler would not leak to the outside. Such living hinge ispreferably made from polypropylene type material, and more broadly,polyolefin type polymer material, or flexible type polyolefin material,such as polyethylene/polypropylene copolymers, and/or polyethylene typecopolymers containing comonomers of the alpha-olefin variety (e.g.1-butene,1-pentene, etc). Along such lines, those resins now commonlyknown as “single-site” or “metallocene’ based polyolefines, whichprovide a polyethylene copolymer of controlled comonomer compositiondistribution, and narrow molecular weight distribution, arecontemplated.

Upper section 220 is also further connected to the top panel 214 atpivot 236. Pivot 236 is preferably disposed on the interior surface ofside wall 216 and 218 to facilitate the collapse of side panel 216 and218 by way of top section 220 folding inward. Again, and in a mannersimilar to the above, pivot 236 is preferably of the integral hingevariety, and made from the indicated preferred materials.

Additionally, middle section 222 is connected to lower section 224 atpivot 240. Pivot 240 is preferably disposed on the interior surface ofside panels 216 and 218 to better allow middle section 222 to pivotinward. Also, and in a manner consistent with the above, pivot 240 ispreferably of the living hinge variety, and made from the preferredindicated materials.

With the hinges so placed, side panels 216 and 218 can collapse inward,wherein middle section 222 folds inward and downward towards bottompanel 212, and upper section 220 pivots inward and towards top panel214, and therein drawing pivot 238 inward toward the center of cooler210.

FIG. 25 illustrates the present invention in a fully collapsedcondition. This figure shows that the collapsing action described aboveof side panels 216 and 218 results in the vertical collapse of top panel214, such that when the cooler 210 is fully collapsed, as illustrated inFIG. 25, top panel 214 comes to rest on folded upper section 220 whichrests upon middle section 222. Furthermore, in that situation whereinend panels 226 and 228 are made to pivotally attach to the device, andare not completely removed, end panels 226 and 228 come to rest onbottom panel 212, wherein end panels 226 and 228 are furtherlongitudinally contained by vertically disposed section 224.

In accordance with the intended end use of the present invention 210 asa cooler or ice chest, all panels should be preferably constructed ofthermal insulating materials. Such materials include expanded typetwin-wall construction polymer materials, preferably foam materials,optionally containing a film type (integral hinge) surface, as notedabove, made via the process of blow molding. However, in the broadcontext of the present invention, single wall construction, ofnon-metallic material, such as injection molded plastic, is an option,and provides all of the advantages of collapsibility previously noted.

Suitable foam materials, as noted, would include, but not be limited to,foamed polystyrene, polyurea/urethane, polyurea, trimer foam, etc. Inaddition, in preferred embodiment, it can be appreciated that in orderto increase the durability and structural integrity of the cooler theinsulating material of the panels should, preferably, be coated with amaterial to effect such an increase in durability and strength.Accordingly, exterior, and preferably also interior surfaces of thepanels, may be coated with a plastic sheeting material, including, butnot limited to polyolefins, vinyl polymers, styrene based polymers,acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resins, vinyl polymer resins,engineering thermoplastics, and thermoset type resins or coatings.

Integrating a cooler's need for durability and strength, with the needfor thermal insulation is preferably satisfied herein via the process ofblow molding, wherein the exterior of the panel is made from a polymericmaterial, thereby providing strength and durability, and the air voidbetween the skins of the panel would provide thermal insulation.Similarly, hollow panels made using a thermoforming process would alsobe suitable. Additionally, to further improve the thermal insulatingproperties of hollow panels, insulating material, for example foam, asherein noted, may be incorporated between the opposing skins which formthe panel in, e.g., a downstream operation. The aforementionedtechniques for forming panels of suitable durability, strength, andthermal insulating character is put forth only as a non-exhaustive listof possibilities. Those skilled in the art are aware that there are alarge variety of techniques and materials which may be used to obtainpanels and insulation of the above construction suitable for themanufacture of the present invention.

In that regard, it is also worth noting that when foam material isemployed directly in the present invention, such as a structural foam,it has also been found preferable to include, on the outer layer of thefoam, a protective film layer that prevents damage to the foam layer,and also provides a better or improved cosmetic appearance. The filmlayer can be made to assume an appearance which is cosmetically pleasingto the consumer. In that regard, a particularly preferred embodimentcenters on the use of expanded polystyrene foam for the cooler 210, andan outer film layer, also of a polystyrene resin.

In addition to providing protection for a inner foam layer, andproviding improved aesthetic appeal, an outer film material, whether acoating on a foam or a coating on the skins of a thermoformed or blowmolded part, as previously discussed, can conveniently serve as anintegral type hinge material. For example, pivots 230, 232, 234, 236,238, and 240, as shown is FIG. 22–24 can all comprise a mechanicalstandard type hinge construction, to effectuate the foldable/collapsiblemechanism herein described. In such regard, e.g., pivot 236, 238 and/or240 may preferably comprise one or a plurality of mechanical typehinges, along the length of the cooler 210.

Alternatively, and again as noted, said pivots can also runsubstantially along the length of the structure, which thereforeprovides a living-hinge characteristic to the present invention, Again,the living hinge can be either a non-integral feature, or,alternatively, can be integral to said structural components asillustrated in the drawings. When living hinges of the described natureare used the additional benefit of having a waterproof seam is readilyprovided.

Although this invention has been disclosed and illustrated withreference to particular embodiments, the principles involved aresusceptible for use in numerous other embodiments which will be apparentto persons of ordinary skill in the art. The invention is, therefore, tobe limited only as indicated by the scope of the appended claims:

1. A collapsible/foldable structure comprising: a top roof and a bottomplatform defining a top and bottom of said structure, including avertically disposed lower side section on said bottom platform; frontand rear collapsible walls each pivotally attached to said verticallydisposed side section to provide for pivotable collapse of said frontand rear walls; said front wall having an opening for egress and ingressof an animal; a pair of sidewalls each pivotally attached to said roofto facilitate inward collapse of said sidewalls when said sidewalls arepivoted toward said bottom platform, said sidewalls defined by an upperand middle section including said lower vertically disposed sidesection, wherein said upper and middle sections are pivotally attachedto one another and said middle and lower section are pivotally attachedto one another so that said upper and middle sidewall sections can bepivoted inwardly towards said bottom platform; and wherein said top rooffurther comprises two roof sections pivotally attached to one another sothat said two roof sections can collapse downwardly along said pivotableattachment toward said bottom platform; said sidewalls containing anouter and inner surface thereof, and wherein said upper and middlesidewalls are pivotally attached by a continuous outer surface of saidsidewalls.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said top roof, bottomplatform, vertically disposed side section, pair of sidewalls and saidfront and rear walls are made from a thermally insulating polymericmaterial, polymeric foam material, expanded polystyrene foam,polyurethane foam, or structural foam material.
 3. The structure ofclaim 1 wherein said sidewalls pivotally attached to said roof, arepivotally attached substantially along a length of said sidewalls, andsaid pivotal attachment comprises a living hinge.
 4. The structure ofclaim 1 wherein said upper and middle sections pivotally attached to oneanother, are pivotally attached substantially along a length of saidsidewalls, and said pivotal attachment comprises a living hinge.
 5. Thestructure of claim 1 wherein said middle and lower sections that arepivotally attached to one another are pivotally attached substantiallyalong a length of said sidewalls, and said pivotal attachment comprisesa living hinge.
 6. A collapsible/foldable structure comprising: a toproof and a bottom platform defining a top and bottom of said structureincluding a vertically disposed lower side section on said bottomplatform; front and rear walls, said front wall having an opening foregress and ingress of an animal; a pair of sidewalls each pivotallyattached to said roof to facilitate inward collapse of said sidewallswhen said sidewalls are pivoted toward said bottom platform, saidsidewalls defined by an upper and middle section including said lowervertically disposed side section, wherein said upper and middle sectionsare pivotally attached to one another and said middle and lower sectionsare pivotally attached to one another so that said upper and middlesidewall sections can be pivoted inwardly towards said bottom platform;wherein at least one of said pivotal attachments of said sidewalls is aliving hinge substantially along the length of said sidewall.
 7. Thestructure of claim 6 wherein said front and rear walls are pivotallyattached to said vertically disposed side section.
 8. Acollapsible/foldable structure comprising: a substantially planar toproof and a bottom platform defining a top and a bottom of saidstructure; a pair of sidewalls each pivotally attached to said roof tofacilitate inward collapse of said sidewalls when said sidewalls arepivoted toward said bottom platform, said sidewalls further containingan upper and lower section, wherein said upper and lower sections arepivotally attached to one another so that said upper and lower sectionscan be pivoted inwardly towards said bottom platform, wherein at leastone of said pivotal attachments is a living hinge substantially alongthe length of the sidewall.
 9. A foldable/collapsible structure forstoring perishable goods comprising: a horizontally disposed bottompanel and a vertically disposed side section, a top panel, a pair ofside panels defined by upper and middle side sections including saidvertically disposed side section; first and second end panels; saidfirst end panel and second end panel hingedly attached to saidvertically disposed side section to provide for pivotal collapse of saidfirst and second end panel; wherein said upper side section is hingedlyconnected to said top panel and said middle side section, said middlesection is hingedly connected to said vertically disposed side section,wherein said side panels can be pivoted inwardly towards said bottompanel.
 10. The foldable/collapsible structure of claim 9 wherein atleast one of said pivotal attachments of said side panels is awaterproof living hinge substantially along the length of said sidepanel.
 11. A collapsible/foldable structure comprising: a top roof and abottom platform defining a top and bottom of said structure, including avertically disposed lower side section on said bottom platform; frontand rear collapsible walls each movably attached to said verticallydisposed side section to provide for movement of said front and rearwalls; said front wall having an opening for egress and ingress of ananimal; a pair of sidewalls each pivotally attached to said roof tofacilitate inward collapse of said sidewalls when said sidewalls arepivoted toward said bottom platform, said sidewalls further containingupper and middle section, wherein said upper and middle sections arepivotally attached to one another so that said upper and middle sidewallsections can be pivoted inwardly towards said bottom platform; andwherein said top roof further comprises a roof section pivotallyattached to the upper sidewall sections, so that said roof section cancollapse downwardly along said pivotable attachment toward said bottomplatform; said sidewalls having an outer and an inner surface thereof,and the middle wall section being pivotally attached to the verticallydisposed lower side section along an inner edge of the middle wallsection to permit folding of said middle sidewall inwardly toward saidbase, the upper wall section being pivotally attached to said middlewall section at the outer edge thereof to permit said upper wall sectionto collapse into contact with the outer surface of said lower wallsection, and said roof section being pivotally connected to said twoupper sidewall sections along the inner edges thereof to permit said topto be collapsed into contact with the inner surface of said upper wallsections.
 12. A collapsible/foldable structure comprising: a top roofand a bottom platform defining a top and bottom of said structure; apair of sidewalls each pivotally attached to said roof to facilitateinward collapse of said sidewalls when said sidewalls are pivoted towardsaid bottom platform, said sidewalls further containing upper and lowersections, wherein said upper and lower sections are pivotally attachedto one another so that said upper and lower sections can be pivotedinwardly towards said bottom platform; a first end panel comprising adoor section and a second end panel; a vertical side panel on saidbottom panel, wherein said first and second end panel are hingedlyconnected to said vertical side panel and wherein said first and secondend panel can be collapsed inwardly into said collapsible/foldablestructure.
 13. The collapsible/foldable structure of claim 12, whereinsaid door section comprises a screen door section.
 14. Thecollapsible/foldable structure of claim 12 wherein said door sectioncomprises a spring loaded pin release including pins which extend intosaid upper sidewall and said bottom platform.
 15. The collapsiblestructure of claim 12, wherein said door section includes a plurality ofa spring loaded pin releases including pins which extend into said uppersidewall and said bottom platform.